Leachate treatment using anoxic/oxic-bioelectrochemical reactor with intermittent aeration

A membraneless, 3.5-L bioelectrochemical reactor with biocathode and anoxicloxic zones was established for treatment of raw landfill leachate. At 24 h hydraulic retention time and 3 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) m(-3) d(-1) volume loading, the tested BES could remove 86.5% of 20100 mg L-1 (COD) and 97.9% of 1330 mg L-1 NH4+-N in raw leachate. The corresponding maximum power density (P-max) was 2.85 Wm(-3) and internal resistance R-int was 47.5 Omega in aerating period, and was 2.70 Wm(-3) and 52.5 Omega in the non -aerating period. Owing to the efficient cathodic denitrification via BES reaction, the removal of total nitrogen can exceed 90%, much higher than those reported in the literature. (C) 2015 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.